Gianni Di Benedetto is a driven, community-focused student aspiring to be a consultant. Graduating this year, Gianni has made a significant impact on campus through his involvement in numerous student organizations and clubs. Gianni’s dedication to creating a positive impact earned him the Grant Thornton Leadership Award and the Club President of the Year award, shared with his Consulting Club Co-President, Tate Bond. These experiences have honed Gianni’s leadership, time management and collaborative skills, preparing him to tackle complex business challenges as a future consultant.
Q: What drew you to the Bachelor of Management program at UBCO?
A: I was drawn to the Bachelor of Management program at UBC Okanagan because it offered a strong curriculum that aligned with my post-high school goals. I felt the program provided a strong foundation in business management and sustainability which is what I was looking for. The beautiful Okanagan Valley also played a major role, with its beautiful scenery making it an appealing environment to study in.
Q: What have been your biggest takeaways from the program?
A: My biggest takeaways from the Bachelor of Management program have been the skills I’ve gained since beginning the program. My academic experience has improved my leadership, time management and collaborative abilities. I am confident that the courses have prepared me to navigate complex business challenges in the future.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of the program so far?
A: The most rewarding part of the program for me has been my involvement in the student community. Serving as an executive for the Management Student Association (MSA) in 2021/2022 and the Co-President of the Consulting Club this past academic year, I have witnessed first-hand the growth and development of the program and opportunities on campus. It has also been extremely rewarding to see the personal and professional development of many students who remained actively engaged with the extracurricular offerings at UBCO
Q: What advice or insight would you give a prospective student considering the program?
A: The best advice I could offer a prospective student considering the program is to have a general plan. Although it may be daunting, understanding where you hope to be after completing your degree can make the undergraduate experience much more manageable. It’s also important to recognize that life happens, so your plan doesn’t necessarily have to be set in stone; it only needs to be a guide to help prepare you for success after graduation. For example, if accounting is a pathway that interests you it’s worthwhile to take the appropriate courses and take part in the accounting club to expand your network and have a further understanding of the industry.
Q: Are you involved in any clubs or student organizations on-campus? If so, what inspired you to get involved?
A: I have been actively involved in various student organizations on campus. Serving as an executive for the MSA, the Co-President of the Consulting Club, the campus account manager for the Canadian Marketing League case competition, and I was an academic competitor for the JDC West team this past year. My inspiration to get involved stemmed from a passion for enhancing the school community and advancing extracurricular opportunities for management students. I wanted to contribute towards making our campus a more engaging and supportive environment for all students.
Q: Can you share what awards you won at the MSA Gala and tell us a bit about them?
A: At the MSA Gala this year, I was fortunate to win the Grant Thornton Leadership award and share the Club President of the Year award with my Consulting Club Co-President, Tate Bond. The Grant Thornton Leadership Award is given to a Management student with a GPA of 75% or higher on a 100-point scale who actively participated in a leadership role at UBCO or within the community. The Club President of the Year Award was something particularly meaningful to me, as the Consulting Club was truly a passion project for both Tate and me. The success of the Consulting Club meant a lot to us as it truly took a team effort
Though Tate and I were very proud to be acknowledged at the MSA gala, it was always imperative to us that our amazing team of eight amazing executives (Severin Nielson, Catherine Labelle, Tobias Steinmann, Arsalan Fakhraei, Mathew Bill, Islam Mahmoud, Isaac O’Connor and Vidur Misra) be recognized as well. Their dedication and hard work throughout the year were crucial to our success, and without their contributions, this acknowledgment would not have been possible.
Q: What are your future goals?
A: Although I am planning to take a short break following the completion of my undergraduate degree, my career goals are to secure a management consulting role at a reputable firm. I aim to leverage the skills I’ve developed during my time in the management program into an industry where I see significant crossover. Beyond my career aspirations, it is very important to me to fulfill my desire to make a positive impact. In any career I enter, I hope to make the most positive impact I can.
Q: Do you have anything else you’d like to share?
A: The Bachelor of Management degree is truly what you make of it. Be open to new experiences, as these become memories that will last a lifetime. I have personally found value in being involved with clubs and competitions and recommend it to every management student. Not only does it create lifelong memories, but it expands your network.